Start your ponytail by gathering all your hair to a slightly off center section in the top of your head. The Sam Villa Styling Brush is one of the best tools for creating a beautiful clean ponytail. Begin in the back brushing section-by-section towards your hand holding your ponytail. Open your hand just enough to add the hair you just brushed up. Once you have a smooth surface, secure with a hair bungee. To secure the bungee, hook in the front of your ponytail close to your scalp, wrap around your pony as many times as you need to until it is tight and place - then attach the opposite hook under the first wrap of the bungee. This little gem is a must have for a tight pony that will last all day. No matter how thick your hair is it allows you maximum hold without losing your tension.

Next you will texturize the ponytail using your Sam Villa Textur® Iron. Before you iron the hair, spray with Redken Iron Shape 11 finishing thermal spray to protect your hair from the heat of the iron and to set in the texture. Next, you will use the Textur® Iron and pinch from the base to ends until you have texturized all of the hair in your ponytail.

Create a traditional fishtail braid -- Divide the hair in the pony tail into two equal parts. Take a small piece from the outside of side one and pass the piece to side two (you can decide which side will be one and two). Next, take a small piece from the outside of side two and pass it to side one. Continue this process. To keep the braid tight, every so often you can take side one and side two and pull them away from each other. This will help tighten the pieces you have already placed and braided. Once you have finished the braid secure the ends with an elastic band. For a looser braid, gently pull the braid apart, this allows for a fuller braid.

Using both hands wrap the length across your fringe area with the ends facing towards the back. Tuck your ends around the back of your ponytail.

Use a few large hairpins to secure your shape by pinning your shape directly into your hair at your scalp.

Try this at home and share your results on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using #SamVillaHowTo.